The art of waste

Based in King’s Lynn, the GroundWork Gallery is Britain’s only contemporary art gallery focusing entirely on the environment says Veronica Sekules. Its aim is to show wonderful high-quality art, but also to talk about it in accessible and friendly ways with visitors and to campaign on the environmental issues that the art and artists raise.

The environment is a subject everyone knows something about, and most people have a view. And most people know that it is under stress and needs our extra care and attention. GroundWork’s theme for 2023 is starting with waste, with an exhibition from 18th March to 16th July called The Art of Waste. There are eight artists on show, all very diverse in their practice, and in their origins. All are making use of surplus materials, implementing circular economies, being very economical in leaving nothing behind. Each work looks ordered and

Wed 7, Thu 8 & Fri 9, Adventure Cinema, Holkham Estate: Various showings at the outdoor cinema experience, including Harry Potter, Elvis and Mathilda the Musical. Learn more and find tickets on the Holkham website, www.holkham.co.uk/whats-on/ considered and definitely does not conjour up any of the images of dirt or mess that we might think of where waste is concerned. At the very least it is thought-provoking, but we all hope it will stimulate some real change in attitudes.

Wed 7 to Tue 20, Blakeney Chinese Brush Painting, 10am-5pm: The Group practices the art of Chinese brush and Japanese sumie painting using traditional techniques and materials. The free exhibition held at The Gallery at NWT Cley Marshes will cover a variety of subjects from paintings of delicate flowers to terracotta army soldiers, from landscapes to still life and more. 2023 is the Chinese Year of the Rabbit so no doubt they will be represented!

Sat 10, National Trust: Meet the Ranger, 10:30am-12:30pm: A free event with no need to book, simply turn up and find the stall at Morston Quay by the Visitor Welcome Centre, to meet one of the rangers and learn more about our beautiful Norfolk coastline and its wildlife.

The summer from 2nd August to 30th September is the time for artists in residence projects. For the third year, GroundWork, together with its consortium of partners including University of the Arts, London, The Grange Projects, Great Cressingham and Norfolk Geodiversity Partnership, is continuing to look at Extraction. This is a hot topic in Norfolk, especially along the coastal region where aggregates are both excavated from land and dredged from

Booking online via the NWT website is required, tickets are £6 children (accompanying adult free) + booking fee.

Sat 10, Coastal Creations (Cley Calling), 1:30pm-3:30pm: Join NWT and search the strandline for natural treasures washed up by the sea. Using natural materials on the beach, we will then create beach art inspired by the coast. Meet at Cley Visitor Centre before driving to the beach (own transport required).

Thu 15, Rewilding the Sea: Charles Clover of Blue Marine Foundation, 7pm-9:30pm: The world’s oceans have never faced more challenges - from ruthless overfishing, plastic pollution and acidification. But change is achievable, and change is happening. An essential and revelatory book from one of the leading figures in marine conservation, it urges us to rethink our relationship with nature. Booking online is required for this NWT event, tickets are £8 NWT members, £10 nonmembers + booking fee.